Wenger to give duo their chance after Cazorla/Coquelin injuries

Arsene Wenger has opened the door to Aaron Ramsey to cement his place in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield following the injury to Santi Cazorla.

The Spaniard is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after damaging knee ligaments against Norwich City last weekend with Arsene confirming there’s a possibility he won’t be back until at least March.

With Francis Coquelin also out for three months with a knee injury, and Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta also injured, the boss is going to have to come up with a new pairing in central midfield.

Aaron Ramsey is the obvious answer to fill Cazorla’s boots with the Welshman back to full fitness following his own hamstring concern and Wenger has admitted it’s an opportunity for the 24-year-old to reclaim his preferred central role.

That still leaves the defensive midfield position needing to be filled and while Mathieu Flamini is expected to deputise over the coming weeks, the boss has suggested defender Calum Chambers could also be given a chance in a more advanced position.

“For him it is a good opportunity if he plays there, that is where he prefers to play. I can use [Chambers there too] if needed, he can play there.”

Rambo has been forced to play out on the right for much of the season and he’s always said he’d prefer to be in the middle, so this is certainly a great opportunity for him.

I’ve never been a fan of him out wide so this is a silver lining to the Cazorla injury but the important thing is he can strike up a solid partnership with whoever is in the holding role.

I’m not a fan of Flamini at all as I think he’s an extremely limited player but I’m not convinced Chambers is the answer either. Testing a rookie defender in a midfield role half-way through the season when your two points off top seems madness to me.